How to Raise Silkworms? A Detailed Guide to Silkworm Rearing Techniques and Management Methods

Silkworms are white and tender all over, move slowly, and are very cute. Besides being reared on a large scale in the sericulture industry, many people are willing to raise silkworms at home to pass the time. Today we will learn how silkworms should be raised.

1. How to Raise Silkworms

1. Silkworms reproduce by eggs. Silkworm eggs look like fine grains of sesame, about 1 mm wide and about 0.5 mm thick. At a temperature of around 21-29℃, the silkworm eggs begin to develop. After about half a month, the silkworm eggs become transparent, which means the silkworms are about to come out.

2. The silkworms that have just hatched from the eggs look like ants and are black all over. They are called “newly hatched silkworms” and are covered with fine hairs, which become inconspicuous after about a few days. About 40 minutes after emerging from the shell, the newly hatched silkworms have an appetite, and at this point the feeding process should begin, mainly with tender mulberry leaves.

3. After continuously eating mulberry leaves, the silkworm's body turns white, and after a period of time it begins to shed its skin. When the silkworm is dormant, it does not eat or move. On the surface it is sleeping, but in reality it is shedding its old skin and replacing it with new skin to continue growing. Throughout the entire rearing process, it must molt 4 times, and at this time it is best not to disturb it. Each dormancy period of the silkworm lasts about one day.

4. After one molt, it becomes a second-instar larva. Each molt counts as adding one year of age. It must molt four times in total, and only after becoming a fifth-instar larva does it begin to spin silk and form a cocoon. At this time, the silkworm's back ridge turns yellow and also becomes shiny and somewhat transparent.

5. Generally, after about 25 days, it begins to form a cocoon. The silkworm needs two days to form a complete cocoon, and inside the cocoon it completes its final molt and becomes a pupa.

6. After about ten days, the silkworm transforms into a silkworm moth and breaks out of the cocoon. After emerging from the cocoon, the female moth attracts the male moth by scent to mate. The male moth dies immediately after mating, and the female moth also slowly dies after laying eggs.

2. Precautions for Raising Silkworms

1. The mulberry leaves prepared for the silkworms must be clean and hygienic. Do not use leaves that have been sprayed with pesticides, and do not use leaves with soil on them. At the same time, they must not have water on them.

2. The box used for raising silkworms must be clean and free of peculiar smells.

3. Do not place the silkworms in the sun; place them in a ventilated spot indoors.

4. Do not casually handle the silkworms with sweaty hands.

5. Change the mulberry leaves in time and clean up the droppings.

That is all for the introduction to the silkworm rearing process. I hope it is helpful to friends who are interested in raising silkworms.